Electric railroad-switch.



M. J. WIGHTMAN.

ELECTRIC RAILROAD SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2, 1908 902,035. Patented 001127, 1908.

ATTORNEYS the ve MERLE J. WIGHTMA-N, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

..ELEGTRIC YBA IIILROAD SWITCH.

Specification '01 Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

Application 111011 January 2,.1908. SeriaLNo. 409,074.

Be it known' that I, MERLE-J. WIGHTMAN, a citizen'of the *United States, and a resident of New York, in the county-of New Y orkand State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Railroad switches, of which the following is as ecification.

y invention relates to means for operating railway switches and its object is to provide means whereby the position of the switch may be controlled from a vehicle moving over the line of rails.

The invention is-es ecially-suited for us with vehicles in whic the motive power is electricity and may be employed alike in those systems wherein the moving vehicle takes its power from a trolley wire, a third rail or from a conductor in a slatted conduit.

The invention is, however, not confined to any-sppcial method-of supplyingcurrent to -icle,=nor to any special method ofpropellingthe-same. By the use of my invention,"a motorman on a proaching-a switch may, without leavingt e vehicle, throw the switch'to the desired position or may, at wi1l,'leave it in the position in which he finds it, if desired.

The principal parts'of the apparatusemployed incarrying out -my invention comprise the usual railway switch that may be thrown to direct the moving vehicle to the desired line of track, an -electric motor-connected to the switch throu h mechanismby which it may reciprocate t e same, suitable means whereby the vehicle as it'approaches the switch may close an operating circuit of the motor, means for maintaining the oper ation of the motor inde endently of the osition of the vehicle, and means operated by the motor or its connected mechanism and adapted 'to automatically stop the motor when the railway switch has completed its throw in one or the other direction.

In carrying out my invention, I prefer to bring the ,electric motor into operation 'by means of a circuit closer carried by the movin vehicle and adapted to en ge an-insulate section of conductor on t epermanent way. Said circuit closer is by preference the collector by whichcurrent is sup plied to=the motor on the vehicle and the-insulated section of conductor engaged ?by the same is properly connected toa supply on- The'novel combinations of apparatus and 1 i the special construction, of devices constituting my invention will be described in connection with the accom anying drawings and then more particular y specified in the claims.

For the purpose of'illustrating-my invention, I have described the same as ap lied to a trolley system of. electrical propu sion in which the vehicle takes its power from an overhead conductor.

Figure 1 of the drawings illustrates diagrammatically an arrangement of the-a paratus embodying my invention, parts 0 the apparatus being shown inperspective; Fi 2 is a vertical cross section through the tro ley wire and devices for attaching an insulated section of conductor thereto. .Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a modified arrangement of circuits and switch devices for interrupting the circuit of the railway switch motor as soon as the switch has been thrown.

1 indicates the railway track and 2 the movable switch oint at 'a'branch or sidi 3 typifies an el ctric/ motor of any suitab e construction connected through suitable mechanism with the switch-point 2, so that when the motor operates, it will reciprocate the switch point and :move it into either of the positions which it is required to assume. The reciprocating mechamsm may be of various types. A preferred form of'mechanism connecting the motor and switch point is as follows: l

4 is the motor shaft which, through 'a screw 5 and wormwheel 6 or other suitable Said shaft carries a crank arm- ,8, whichis connected reducing gear, rotates a shaft'Z.

through a link!) withan elbow oi bell crank lever 10. Thelatteri's joined by a, link 11'to the switch point 2. 'Obviously,"the rotation of--shaft 7 produced b the motor 3 and'the consequent turning. o crank '8 will recipro catetheswitch point 2, onewhole revolution of the shaft 7 servin'g to .movethe switch point from openosition pf theswitdh-{to closed position an back again.

' power, prefera may be supplied to motor 3 to start the same into operation. This circuit closer is typifiedhby armature 18 for electromagnet 17 and a contact point 19 with which the armature 18 engages when the electromagnet is excited. A suitable retractor such, for

instance, as a spring or gravity opens the cir- .cuit when the electromagnet 17 loses its power. Current is supplied to the motor 3 throughthe circuit closer from'the trolley or feed wireto earthor other suitable return, the

connections being indicated by numeral 20.

Section 15 of'insulated conductor is a short section placed at some considerable distance in advance of the railway switch .but. sufficiently near thereto to permit the motorman to observe the Iposition of the railway switch before the col ctor 13 will engage the insulated section-15.

Suitably connected with the electric motor 3 or the mechanism operated thereby is a circuit closer and'breaker actuated by said mo-' tor and adapted to control an operating circuit ofsaid motor in such manner that when the motor has operated to a sufficient extent to throw the switch 2 in one direction or the other, such operating circuit will be opened and the motor thereby be thrown out 0 action. 7 One of the forms of devices adapted to erform this function comprises a disk or w eel 22 of'conducting material mounted on shaft 7 and engaged at diametrically op osite oints by circuit closing brushes 23. n the ace'of said disk are non-conducting or insuspaces 24 so located as to be engaged latinfi I by t e brushes 23 when the switch 2 "completed its throw. The brushes and disk control an operating circuit 21' of the motor which, as shown, is a substitute or branch circuit around the circuit closer 18. The cirswitch 2 in the desired position.

' clamped to t In Fig. 3 I illustrate a modification of my invention wherein I employ but one set of circuit closing contacts and one operating circuit or connection in place of the'branch, circuits shown m Fig. 1.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, the magnet 17 releases the circuit closer which establishes the operating-circuit forthe motor 3 and retains its position until it is mechanically reset by mechanism driven from the motor, thereby breaking the circuit of the' latter and bringing it to rest. In this instance, the armature 1.8 is shown as a triparmature adapted to tri or release the circuit closer 18 which then, hy gravity or a spring, drops and engages the contact oint 19 connected tothe motor. When t e motor has com leted 'a'throw'of therailway switch, the mec anisin driven by the motor lifts the circuit closer 18 and latches it upon the armature'18 thus opening the circuit and bringing the motor to rest. resetting. mechanism may consist of'a air of spring arm 25 projecting rearwardly Item the ends of radial arms 26 which are carried by the motor driven shaft 7. These arms 25 normally occupy the position shown, but when revolved v with the shaft 7 the one in advance first engages a suitably fixed in 27 in its .path and being first ,bent or de ected by e agement with said pin finally snaps by it an strikes a projection from the lever 18 and throws said lever back to position where it will catch.

upon the hook on armature lever 18.v

In the case of a trolley wire 12 the insulated section of conductor 15 may be fastened thereto in the manner more clearly shown in Fig. 2 wherein the said section of conductor is shown provided with a pair of laterally extending flanges by means of which, and by a cooperating late 28, said conductor may be e trolley'wire.

29' indicates suitable clamp bolts and 30 indicates mica or other insulation se arating the conductor and clamping devices om the trolle wire.

In ig. 3 the insulated section of conductor 15 is of U-shape and its arms are bolted or fastened directly to the hanger 31 for the trolley wire 12, suitable insulation 30 being provided as before.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: Let it be supposed that the switch 2 is 0 en and that the motorman on approaching t e switch and seeing that it is open desires to set and close said switch 2. As the collector13 passes the insulated section 15, the

motorman maintains the circuit through his controller, preferably on the first notch, so

that as the collectorpasses momentarily over operate, the circuit closing-disk 22 moves suflieient to permit the motor-'3 to operate sufiicientlylong to close the con-nection between brushes ,23. As the vehicle moves along the motor 3 continuesto operate and guickly throws the switch 2'. As will be unerstood, the position of the conductor 15 is sufficiently far in advance of ,the switch to permit the o eration to be completed before the car wheesreach the switch. As soon as thc'switch is thrown, the motor 3 breaks its own circuit because it will have moved the wheel 22 through a half turn back to the position shown where the springs 23 will be op- 'posite the insulating spaces.

Theoperation in the case of thearran ement shown in Fig. 3 is. substantially t e same. The closure of circuit on insulated section of. conductor 15 energizes magnet 17 and the latter trips the circuit closer 18 whichthereupon closes the motor. connection to motor 3. Thecircuit closer 18 remains down and in position against a suitable stop which'may be the pin 27, and the motor now continues to operate although the connection, through magnet 17, may have been broken by the collector leaving the insulated section of conductor. As soon as the switch has been thrown, the resetting devices will have been moved by the motor, so as to throw the lever 18 back into the position indicated, the motor thereby acting tobreak its own circuit and to be automatically thrown out of operation. Should themotorman on approaching the switch 2 see that the same is in the desired positionf he simply throws his controller to open position or otherwise breaks the connection on the vehicle from collector 13, so that on assing the section of conductor 15, no e ect will be produced upon magnet 17 and the motor 3 remain at rest. As soon as-the collector 13 passes sect'ion15, the motorman may again apply the power without afiec'tingthe motor 3.

What I claim as my invention is: p

-1. The combination. of a railway switch, a motor, mechanism driven thereby for reci rocating the switch, means for closin t e circuit of the motor froma moving ve icle, means for maintaining a circuit of said motor independently of the position of the vehicle, and means for automatically stopping the motor when the railway switch corn';

pletes its throw in one orthe other direction.

2. The combination of a railway" switch, an operating electric motor for reciprocating the. same, an insulated section of conductor, a, collector carried by the vehicle, a starting for automatically closing an operatin unit ofthe motor as soon as-it is starte and turn of the s 'rupting the circuit ofthe motor w switclrhavin a magnet energized over the circuit of sai insulated section for starting the motor, and -means driven by the motor cirbreak'ing said circuit when the switch has completed its throw in one or the other direction'. v I

3'. The combination of a railway switch, an

.operating electric motor, a motor driven crank shaft and connecting'mechanism between said crank and switch, a circuit closer and breaker inan operating circuit of the motor, means for causing the sameto close said operating circuit when the motor starts and to break said circuit when the crank shaft has turned to a predetermined point, and independent means foe starting the motor.

4. The combination of a railway switch, a

current collector carried by avehicle, an insulated section of conductor adapted to be engaged thereby,'ai1 electromagnet in a connection to said insulated section, anelectric motor connected to "the switch, a circuit closer controlling an operating circuit of the motor and operated by said magnet, a branch or substitute connection for supplying operating current to the-motor,'1ndependent means for closing said circuit when the motor starts, and means for breaking said circuit automatically when the switch com- .pletes its throw.

5. The combination of a railway switch, a 7' current collector on a vehicle, an insulated section of conductor engaged thereby, an

electric motor connected to the switchyacincuit closer for starting the motor when the collector passes the insulated sectioirof conductor, a crank shaft between the motor and switch, and means on said crankshaft for automatically sto ping the motor at the com;

letion of the t irection'.

v6. The combination of a railway switch, an o crating electric motor, a shaft driven t ereby, mechanism connecting said shaft ow of the switch in either and switchand adapted to throw the switch in one direction upon a half turn of the shaft, and in the o posite direction in the next half haft in the same direction, means for closing a circuit of said motor at will, as a vehicle approaches the switch, and means operated by the motor for automatically stopping it when the switch has been thrown.

7. Thecombinat'ion of a railway switch, an

o crating electric motor therefor, a circuit 0 oser acting momentarily as the vehicle approaches the switch, means governed bysaid circuit closer for starting the motor, means whereby the motor'may continue in opera- ,tion after the circuit closer has passed out of action, and means for automatically intrien t e same has moved sufficiently-to complete the means for starting the motor independently 10 throw of the switch. of said circuit closer and breaker.

8. The combination with a railway switch, Signed at New York in the county of New of an operating electric motor, mechanism York and State of New York this 11th day of driven by the motor for reciprocating the June A. D. 1907.

switch," a rotary circuit closer "and breaker" MERLE J. WIGHTMAN. driven by the motor and adaptedto inter- Witnesses: rupt a motor circuit at the com letion of the O. F. TIsOHNER, Jr.

throw of the switch in either irection, and LILLIAN BLoNn. 

